dome light...

[Fordeatinz71]

does anyone have any tips/tricks to making the dome light brighter?  i have thought about ordering a new lens (don't know how much this would help because mine looks pretty good) but i just think it doesn't have enough intensity anyhow...i know these weren't designed to put out much but this isn't enough for anything. 

i thought about trying to swap in a unit from a newer truck that would accept a brighter bulb but with the curve in our roofs i just think it would end up looking crappy.  anyone else have any ideas/advice besides get a flashlight/candle...?  lol

[78 Chevyrado]

Not exactly what you asked for but, I put an 1156 bulb in the socket under the dash (to light the floor up) and it lit up the whole inside of the truck better.  I dont remember what bulb is in my dome light.  Take your bulb to the store and compare bases.  If it will fit the socket and the glass part isn't too big to put the lens over (Without touching bulb to lens), you're in buisiness.

[1978Bonanza]

Speaking of dome lights. What is the bulb number? I need one real bad, mine never came with one and have no clue what is looks like. It is a 1978 btw.

[VileZambonie]

You can try one of these

http://www.eautoworks.com/product-Led-38141.htm

[Fordeatinz71]

i'll have to try those Vile...

and as for the underdash sockets...i don't have 'em.  i thought they all did, but i don't seem to have them unless i've been looking over them...

[Captkaos]

Unless someone removed the socket, it is right near the ashtray..  My Base truck has it.  I had one that it was crammed up under the dash...

[gezn2]

Yeah, they get pretty dull over the years, the chromed-plastic that's supposed to act like a reflector doesn't any more
You could try pulling it out, taping off the bulb socket, and painting the inside of the housing bright-white or silver so you get more usable light out of the thing
I can't testify to how long *my* hillbilly-deluxe trick lasts, but my taillight reflectors got painted orange when some boy-racer sprayed the truck and they were dim as 'heck', I coated the inside with High-Tack and lined them with aluminum foil shiny-side-out and now they're nice and bright If you're in an experimenting mood I'm not applying for any patents on the idea

[Fordeatinz71]

haha, thanks for the ideas guys. i'm gonna go look for the underdash light right now...thinking about it, i've never had a truck that didn't have it...and it'd be nice to have...even my BASE '79 Custom Deluxe had it...it didn't even have a dome light

[Fordeatinz71]

yep, i overlooked it.  see, it's mounted by one bolt...and the bolt had loosened to the point that it basically rolled itself up into the dash.  i need to get a new bulb but then i should be in business.  the bulb LOOKS good so i'm hoping it's not a wiring problem...shouldn't be, everything else works perfect on this truck...